Background: The prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) can substantially contribute to reducing the mortality rate across countries. The level of interest in cholesterol among experts increases when the subjects are elderly and obese individuals. However, specialists do not recommend that children should receive the cholesterol test. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of cholesterol levels among the children of public school and their parents’ lifestyles that are associated with cholesterol levels, and to assess the need for and utility of cholesterol testing in school settings. Methods: The study investigated a group of 226 fourth-grade public school children aged between 9 and 10 years and guardians in Akitakatacity of Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Multiple regression analyses were performed with the logarithmic value of cholesterol levels as a response variable, awareness about lifestyles and health of children as an explanatory variable, and child’s sex and body mass index (BMI) as moderating variables. Using questionnaires about lifestyles, the step-down procedure was applied in multiple regression analyses to narrow down relevant lifestyle variables. Results: The percentage of children with the high total cholesterol (TC) value was about 15 and with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol value was about 10. Children with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol value were 5%. Treatment was not required according to the comprehensive assessment. Cholesterol levels were associated with the situation of the children and their guardians as follows, guardian need to consider the food, and child has the correct knowledge about food like how to eat snacks. Conclusions: Children had poor cholesterol levels. From childhood, along with the parents, there is a need to learn about appropriate level of cholesterol for CVD prevention.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for 31% of global mortality according to the World Health Organization (WHO) [1] . It is the second leading cause of death in Japan after malignant neoplasms, according to a cause-of-death analysis by the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare [2] . These figures suggest that prevention of CVD would substantially contribute to reducing the mortality rate of CVD across countries. The risks of CVD are associated with body mass index (BMI) and levels of blood lipids such as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol [3] . The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) developed the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) to draw greater attention of experts to cholesterol level in blood [4] . The NCEP aims to reduce CVD deaths through emphasizing the importance of monitoring cholesterol, limiting lipid containing food intake, and lowering cholesterol levels.

To prevent CVD, experts recommend focused guidance and support targeting communities, children, and in-office settings [4] . The level of interest in blood cholesterol among experts increases when it comes to elderly and obese individuals. This is due to a high incidence of CVD deaths among people of middle and advanced age group [5] [6] . Specialists have recommended for adults that it is necessary to include the serum cholesterol test in the medical check-up. How- ever, specialists do not recommend that children should receive the serum cholesterol test. Blood cholesterol levels have been reported to increase after the age of 15 years in the United States (US) [3] [7] . One study in the Finnish population found that the blood cholesterol level at the age of 12 years is associated with the level in adulthood [8] . In Japan, Tan et al. tested the cholesterol of children aged 8 to 10 years, and conducted the testing again 4 years later. There was evidence of a correlation between cholesterol levels at ages 8 to 10 years and 4 years later [9] . Studies have shown that children who begin to put on weight in their early years have significantly higher cholesterol levels after they reach adulthood [10] . In another study, Kouda et al. found that childhood cholesterol levels have been on the rise yearly due to dietary changes [11] . Given that childhood cholesterol levels are predictors of adult cholesterol levels, when today’s children reach adulthood, they may develop arteriosclerosis more advanced than that of adults now a days with increased risks for CVD. As recommended by the NHLBI, it is important to give attention to cholesterol level in the beginning of childhood.

The fact that cholesterol is associated with lifestyle variables such as exercise and diet is well established in case of adults. The same association is also indicated for children [9] . As the cholesterol level begins to increase at around the age of 15 years [8] , it is necessary to check the childhood cholesterol levels through cholesterol testing in children between the ages of 8 and 10 years. Childhood cholesterol testing programs have been conducted and studied, some of which have yielded childhood cholesterol testing and reference values [12] [13] [14] [15] . However, these reference values were established for the purpose of screening for familial hyperlipidemia. Persons with familial hypercholesterolemia have caused highly elevated cholesterol levels since childhood. Their cholesterol level rapidly increased to high levels with age [16] . They are at high risk for CVD and require early treatment [17] , and therefore relatively high reference cholesterol levels have been established.

Cholesterol tests for screening purposes are not universally performed; they are advised at a rate of 4.3% [18] of health visits in the US. An accurate percentage of cholesterol screening at schools in Japan is unknown, because cholesterol screening at schools is not required by law. As a preventative measure for lifestyle diseases, cholesterol levels should receive closer attention to achieve reductions in the CVD related mortality rate. The objective of the present study was to investigate the distribution of cholesterol levels among public school children, the children along with their parents’ lifestyles associated with cholesterol levels and to assess the need for cholesterol testing in school settings.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Population

The study investigated a group of 226 fourth-grade public school children in Akitakata city of Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, born between 2005 and 2006, aged 9 and 10 years. All the children of the fourth grader in the public elementary schools who were agreed to perform the blood test of Akitakata city were the targets of this study. It is because it carried out as public health service to the city. There was a notice by the informational magazine of the town and invitation by the school teachers.

2.2. Lifestyle Questionnaire

The survey form referred to the investigation item of many fields for a Japanese child and was created by the researchers. For example, the investigations to which we referred are the investigation of a movement custom, and investigation of a meal, which can cover all a child's lives. Those investigations are conducted by the organization of the country which called it the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The investigation for a child consisted of 55 items, and for the gurdian of 70 items. As the teachers expected educational effects, the questionnaires for children were distributed a total of 3 times: Round 1 in July, Round 2 in September, and Round 3 in November. The questionnaires for parents were distributed at the same time as the Round 1 questionnaires for the children in July. The questionnaires were brought home by the children, who then submitted their sealed completed questionnaires to the school. Blood samples were collected in late September to accommodate school events. The children and the parents shared the same identification number assigned by the school.

2.3. Procedure for Blood Tests

Following the distribution of study information to parents by the local government, parents registered their children for blood sampling, at that time the presence of allergy to rubbing alcohol was checked. As a fasting blood sampling was necessary, blood drawing was conducted right before lunch. Prior to blood sampling, the children watched our informational video to learn about blood and blood sampling procedures.

For cost limitations, blood samples were tested to find out the same laboratory examination reports as in the general health checkups for adults: anemia, blood glucose, kidney function, lipid profile, and liver function. Analysis of cholesterol was performed as follows: TC was measured by the cholesterol oxidase method, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were measured by the direct (enzymatic) method, and TG was measured by the enzyme colorimetric method. The need for treatment was determined holistically by the school physician based on the reference data (for 10-year-olds) from the National Center for Child Health and Development.

2.4. Data Collection and Statistical Analysis

Responses from the children were standardized by converting them into normal scores in a way that averaged out the three responses. Responses from the child and guardian were quantified where questions with binary answers were converted into dummy variables (0 or 1), and questions with four possible answers were standardized by converting them into normal scores with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. Multiple regression analyses were performed with the logarithmic value of cholesterol levels as a response variable, awareness about lifestyles and health of children as an explanatory variable, and child’s sex and BMI as moderating variables. Sex and BMI were used as moderating variables for LDL cholesterol, as the LDL cholesterol level differs between the sexes [18] and is strongly associated with BMI [19] . Using a large number of questions on lifestyles, the step-down procedure was applied in multiple regression analyses to narrow down relevant lifestyle variables. In the first stage, explanatory variables with P-values less than 0.7 were retained and then re-analyzed. In the second stage, variables with P-values less than 0.4 were retained. In the third stage, variables with P-values less than 0.15 were finally selected as explanatory variables.

2.5. Ethical Considerations

Consent and support for the study were obtained after the health management department of the local government explained the need for and the benefits of the blood tests, as well as anticipated risks to the education department and teachers of each participating school. Similar briefing sessions were organized for parents, where information materials were distributed. The registration form for blood sampling also contained information on the need for and the benefits of blood sampling, as well as anticipated risks. The registration form was distributed to the parents by the local government, along with a document explaining that study findings would be made public as a published article while ensuring the anonymity and confidentiality of participants. Results from the questionnaires and blood tests were assigned unique codes different from individual identifiers, making the data untraceable to any particular individual. For the analysis, we borrowed the Excel datasets processed by the local government. These procedures were reviewed by an ethical committee (Approval number E-493).

Variables of children associated with higher LDL cholesterol levels were as follows: feeling irritated (P = 0.0009), shorter exercise time (P = 0.0080), skipping breakfast (P <0.0001), not eating a wide variety of foods (P = 0.0007), having likes and dislikes (P = 0.0003), not eating deep fried foods (P = 0.0059), and not eating heavily seasoned foods (P <0.0001). Some of these reflect the possession of health-promoting knowledge, but there are examples of misunderstandings such as a positive view towards eating a large amount of French fries because they are vegetables (P = 0.0059) and a belief that exercise does not help to prevent diseases (P = 0.0097).

Variables of parents associated with higher TG levels of children were as follows: eating snacks before dinner (P = 0.0455) and not caring about the way to eat meals (P = 0.0438). The corresponding variables for children were as follows: not easily fatigued (P = 0.0122) and caring about not eating heavily seasoned foods (P = 0.0202).

4. Discussion

4.1. The Need for School-Based Cholesterol Screenings

The NHLBI has established two goals for the prevention of CVD [20] : 1) prevent the increase of CVD risk; and 2) prevent the development of future CVD through risk factor management. Identifying dyslipidemia in children through screening leads to preventing the increase of CVD risk. Screening is highly significant, especially for identifying familial dyslipidemia, which is known to affect one in five hundred people [19] [21] [22] [23] . Therefore, an increase in the screening rate would greatly contribute to prevention efforts [23] . A study based on the NHLBI guidelines was conducted at pediatric clinics in five different towns, and found that the screening rates before and after implementing the NHLBI guidelines were 17.1% and 20.1%, respectively [24] . However, the screening rate of fourth-grade students in our study conducted at a public elementary school was 83.6%. Considering the significance of screening tests, it is very important to conduct screenings at public elementary schools.

The other goal is risk factor management. As recommended by the NHLBI [20] , risk management for children is essential, and guidance must be provided to deter future risks in children. School-based health guidance has been implemented in the past to address the prevention of lifestyle diseases [25] [26] . However, the children are not given an opportunity to know their own cholesterol levels, as cholesterol testing is not a part of the school-based health checkups. According to different cut-off reference values from several studies [12] [13] [14] [15] , our study results show that there are students with high cholesterol levels, as shown in Table 2. When the reference values established by the local government were used, there were no children that required medical assistance and 3.5% were flagged as requiring guidance. According to the values proposed by Benuck [27] , children around the 50th to 70th percentile had borderline cholesterol levels. This is undoubtedly not a good situation. In the present school system, these children have no way of knowing their cholesterol test results, since, as stated above, cholesterol testing is not routinely performed during school-based health checkups. Knowing one’s own cholesterol level is the first step in increasing interest in cholesterol. This knowledge has the potential to be used as teaching material in health promotion education for raising self-aware- ness of lifestyle diseases.

4.2. Lifestyle Issues that Require Group Guidance from Schools

Family life and values are extremely important for elementary school-aged children in reducing their future CVD risk. By investigating not only the students’ but also the parents’ situation, we identified lifestyle issues that could be improved by informing parents of their children’s cholesterol test results. Lifestyle issues of children that emerged through the school-based cholesterol testing were examined individually based on the different cholesterol types.

4.2.1. Total Cholesterol

Parents’ situations that had an association with high TC levels were examined. Skipping breakfast was associated with high TC levels. In the case of the children, skipping breakfast, having likes and dislikes, past dieting experience, shorter exercise time, and understanding that diet and exercise have no effect on blood test results were associated with high TC levels. These variables coincided with a situation that leads to high cholesterol levels. In addition, not feeling sluggish in the morning, having time to exercise, and being careful not to eat heavily seasoned foods were associated with high TC levels. These were variables that demonstrated the children are healthy and have no physical symptoms. Both parents and children seemed to be concerned about obesity. The short exercise time despite having time to exercise is due to their misunderstanding that diet and exercise have no effect on blood test results. Therefore, children’s exercise time may be increased by informing the parents of their children’s TC levels and correcting the parents’ misunderstanding.

4.2.2. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol

Parents’ situations that were associated with high LDL cholesterol levels in their children were examined and found to be as follows: not supervising the amount of snacks, not addressing likes and dislikes, not worried about skipping meals, and not discussing health guidance from school. This illustrates that parents are not paying attention to their children’s lifestyle. In addition, children’s high LDL cholesterol levels were related to parents’ general knowledge of diet and exercise, as well as their understanding of their children’s body shape. In fact, the children’s high LDL cholesterol levels were due to the lack of concern for the children. Regarding the children’s perspective on lifestyles and values based on their responses, high LDL cholesterol levels were associated with the following: viewing French fries as being vegetables, not believing that exercise can prevent illnesses, shorter exercise time despite having time to exercise, skipping breakfast, preference for heavily seasoned foods, not eating a wide variety of foods, and having likes and dislikes. These variables coincide with factors that elevate LDL levels. These issues have emerged despite the fact that the relationship of diet and exercise with lifestyle diseases is being taught as part of “shokuiku”, the food and nutrition education program in Japan [28] . The need to disseminate accurate information was emphasized. Variables associated with high LDL cholesterol levels illustrated that reasons children being healthy were as follows: not feeling irritated, having good bowel of movements, and not having second helpings for lunch. It is difficult for children to be interested in their LDL cholesterol levels without knowing their own test results, as well as not having any noticeable symptoms. Knowing their own LDL cholesterol levels from the results of the school-based health checkups would serve as a good opportunity to acquire accurate information.

4.2.3. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol

Parents’ situations that were associated with low HDL cholesterol levels in children were examined. The most notable factor was who chooses a child’s snack. A low HDL cholesterol level was associated with a child choosing his or her own snack. Not paying attention to overeating of snacks was also related to low HDL cholesterol levels. These findings point to the fact that cholesterol levels are affected by whether parents are paying attention to their children. Cholesterol testing would direct the attention of parents to their children’s cholesterol levels. However, guidance is still needed so that 10-year-old children can exercise self- control in their day-to-day lives without having to be cautioned by parents. The frequency of snacking and eating snacks on one’s own increases in early adolescence. From a nutritional perspective, a 10-year-old child does not need snacks. However, snacks not only have nutritional value but also have a refreshing effect on the child. The daily recommended caloric intake from snacks should be about 10%. In other words, children need to learn to choose snacks that are approximately 200 kcal [28] per day.

4.2.4. Triglycerides (TG)

According to the parents’ responses, a lifestyle situation that had an association with high TG levels was eating snacks before dinner. There were no children’s responses related with high TG.

4.2.5. High-Priority Lifestyle Habits That Require Guidance

The following variables were associated with more than 2 types of cholesterol levels: parents warning children to avoid overeating snacks, increasing exercise time, eating breakfast, avoiding heavily seasoned foods, eliminating likes and dislikes to eat a wide variety of foods, and eating dairy products. These require specific, focused guidance. Addressing lifestyle issues in the family while discussing a child’s cholesterol levels is a CVD risk management opportunity for the family and the community. Investigating the risk of diseases related to CVD among all school children is a prevention activity that uses the population approach. All respective local governments are expected to address ways for encouraging a lifestyle that decreases risks [26] . One specific strategy is childhood cholesterol testing. It must be targeted to all the children in the area as part of health promotion education. The children’s cholesterol test results should be used by the entire family as educational material to acquire healthy lifestyle habits [24] to reduce the future risk of non-obese [29] individuals being at high risk for heart disease.

5. Study Limitations

The relationships among carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), arteriosclerosis, and cholesterol levels of the 10-year-old children who showed borderline cholesterol levels should be investigated. A cohort study should then be conducted to investigate changes in cholesterol levels and to determine the future incidence of CVD. If cholesterol screening is used as educational material, the effects on children and parents need to be verified.

6. Conclusion

In order to verify the role and necessity in CVD prevention for the child’s cholesterol test in a public school, the distribution of the child’s cholesterol and the relevance to the cholesterol value, a child, and the guardian’s life were considered. Eighty-three percent (189/226) of the eligible school children in the city participated in the cholesterol testing. Children’s cholesterol levels were poor. The cholesterol test in the public school can raise an enforcement rate easily. Though in the present school system, these children have no way of knowing their cholesterol test results, knowing one’s own cholesterol level is the first step in increasing interest in cholesterol. Cholesterol levels were associated to the situation with the children and their guardians. The children had the correct knowledge about their food habits. However, their parents consider the different food choice about their children. The children’s cholesterol test results should be used by the entire family as educational material to acquire healthy lifestyle habits to reduce the future risk of non-obese individuals being at high risk for heart disease. From childhood, along with the parents, there is a need to learn about cholesterol for CVD prevention.

Kouda, K., Nakamura, H., Tokunaga, R. and Takeuchi, H. (2004) Trends in Levels of Cholesterol in Japanese Children from 1993 through 2001. Journal of Epidemiology, 14, 78-82. https://doi.org/10.2188/jea.14.78

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2012) Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents: Summary Report. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/peds_guidelines_sum.pdf